Jakarta, April 30 -- Indonesian Trade Minister Budi Santoso stated that Middle Eastern countries are showing strong interest in deepening trade ties with Indonesia, following the success of previous trade agreements.

He said in Jakarta on Thursday that Indonesia's Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has served as a gateway, encouraging other countries in the region to explore similar agreements.

However, he noted that the geopolitical tensions in the Middle East have affected Indonesia's export performance. In the period of January to February 2026, Indonesia's exports to the region dropped by 13 percent.

Despite the decline, Indonesia maintained a trade surplus of US$641 million with...